Discover the 9 Top Ground Covers for UK Gardens
Posted on 15/05/2025
Discover the 9 Top Ground Covers for UK Gardens
Whether you're looking to enhance the beauty of your garden or control weeds, ground covers can be a fantastic addition to your outdoor space. These versatile plants offer a range of benefits, from soil protection to moisture retention, and they can thrive in various conditions.
1. Vinca Minor (Lesser Periwinkle)
The Vinca Minor is a popular choice among UK gardeners. Known for its vibrant blue, purple, or white flowers, this hardy evergreen plant is perfect for those shady areas where other plants might struggle. It grows quickly, providing excellent ground coverage while deterring weeds.
Benefits of Vinca Minor
- Fast-growing with dense foliage
- Blossoms in spring and sometimes in autumn
- Resistant to most pests and diseases
2. Thymus Serpyllum (Wild Thyme)
If you're looking to add both beauty and fragrance to your garden, consider Wild Thyme. These tiny purple flowers bloom in the summer and attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. Ideal for sunny gardens, this ground cover is drought-tolerant and low maintenance.
Why Choose Wild Thyme?
- Aromatic foliage
- Thrives in poor soil
- Attracts beneficial insects
3. Ajuga Reptans (Bugleweed)
Ajuga Reptans, also known as Bugleweed, is a perennial favorite for its vibrant purple-blue flower spikes and rich green foliage. It's ideal for shaded areas and well-suited for moist, fertile soil.
Features of Bugleweed
- Fast-spreading with a dense mat
- Excellent for erosion control
- Flowers provide seasonal interest
4. Hedera Helix (English Ivy)
English Ivy is one of the most well-known and robust ground cover plants. With its lush green leaves, it can climb walls or cover the ground extensively. It's highly adaptable, thriving both in the sun and shade.
Advantages of English Ivy
- Evergreen throughout the year
- Effective for covering large areas
- Low maintenance once established
5. Phlox Subulata (Moss Phlox)
The Moss Phlox is a beautiful and colorful option for an eye-catching display in spring. Available in shades of pink, white, lavender, and red, this plant thrives in sunny locations with well-drained soil.
Highlights of Moss Phlox
- Compact and quick-spreading
- Creates a carpet of flowers
- Perfect for rock gardens and slopes
6. Fragaria Vesca (Wild Strawberry)
The Wild Strawberry isn't just visually appealing but also offers edible fruits. This low-growing perennial is excellent for covering large areas and thrives in partial shade and sun. Its white flowers and red berries make it a charming addition to any garden.
Why Grow Wild Strawberry?
- Produces sweet, edible fruit
- Attracts wildlife
- Low maintenance and attractive foliage
7. Cerastium Tomentosum (Snow-in-Summer)
Snow-in-Summer lives up to its name with its silver-gray foliage and profusion of white flowers in early summer. Ideal for sunny positions and well-drained soil, it provides an excellent ground cover on sloping areas or walls.
Key Benefits of Snow-in-Summer
- Vigorous growth with striking foliage
- Resistant to drought
- Provides year-round interest
8. Artemisia schmidtiana (Silver Mound)
The Silver Mound offers a soft, feathery texture with its silvery-gray foliage that can add contrast and elegance to your UK garden. Suitable for sunny and dry sites, it's also deer-resistant.
Why Plant Silver Mound?
- Beautiful silvery foliage
- Ideal for borders and containers
- Low maintenance and deer resistant
9. Pratia Pedunculata (Blue Star Creeper)
For a delicate and charming effect, the Blue Star Creeper is an excellent choice. This plant boasts tiny, star-shaped blue or white flowers and forms a dense mat suitable for sunny to partially shaded areas.
Highlights of Blue Star Creeper
- Resilient and easy to grow
- Perfect for stepping stones
- Fills gaps in rockeries and slopes
Conclusion
When it comes to ground covers for UK gardens, the options are both diverse and delightful. From the fragrant Wild Thyme to the visually stunning Moss Phlox, there's a plant for every garden setting and purpose. By selecting the right ground cover, you can transform your garden into a lush, low-maintenance paradise that's both functional and beautiful.
Ultimately, consider your location's specific conditions, including sunlight, soil type, and moisture levels, when choosing the perfect groundcover plants for your space. With these options, you'll be on your way to a more vibrant and thriving garden.
